New 'Skyline Snapshot' up on Downtownokc.com

[Pete]

Just uploaded today... As usual, Kim Searls does a great of job of summarizing the wide array of on-going projects in and around downtown:

http://www.downtownokc.com/pdfs/skyl...arter_2005.pdf

[hipsterdoofus]

Nice to see all this stuff happening. Working downtown, there are a few things that I wish would happen and I think they need to happen. First of all the Bus Station has to move or be renovated. It does not fit in with where it is. Here you have all kinds of new things popping up and a slummy looking bus station.

Also, Main street from hudson to walker. There are some great buildings there that are vacant and right now that whole area has to be avoided like the plague or you get hit up for money. I hope that someone looks into improving that block.

[BDP]

I've always kind of liked the Bus Station. Yeah, it's not all slick and pristine, but there's something kind of classic about it. Maybe it's the sign. They could clean it up a bit, but we don't want to go and tear down everything just because it seems old or dirty. That's how we ruined downtown the first time...

[hipsterdoofus]

I don't know. I work near the bus station, and personally, I think they could rename it "old and dirty". While there is something nice about keeping things, there is also reasons at times to tear things down. Personally, I am suprised they didn't combine bus station and metro transit center. That place is nice. To me, the bus station is almost lacking room, which may prevent an easy clean up. It really is on a tiny corner unless they took out an adjacent building, and we don't want the Lunch Box to go away, no we don't! Not saying this would fix the problem, but the bus station attracts a lot of transients, and I am just afraid it will hinder development, especially as far as residential, in that area. Who wants to shop or live in a place where people are always bumming you up for money or yelling "THE GOVERNMENT!" at passing cars?

[mranderson]

"I don't know. I work near the bus station, and personally, I think they could rename it "old and dirty"."

Personally, I prefer the direct approach. Call it what it is. The city dump. We need a clean, modern facility that will be the pride of the region. Maybe like New York City with enclosed bus docks.

[hipsterdoofus]

Good word mranderson, its really true. I'm sorry, but as far as I know, the OKC bus station does not have sentimental value. You are right, if they made it all enclosed that may keep the riffraff from hanging out around it too. I would love to see them integrate it with the metro transit hub, but if not, they could always move it just across the street to the southwest corner of walker and sheridan.

[Pete]

Back to the Skyline Snapshot, I had not heard about the following and I think it's a fanastic idea:



OKC Ambassadors

Project: The Oklahoma City Police Department and the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) joined together in expanding the existing OCPD funded Community Service Patrol, and renamed them the OKC Ambassadors. The BID dedicated $34,000 to support and expand the program.

Expansion of the program includes the BID purchase of two new Segway personal transportation units. The Segways are equipped with saddlebags to carry maps, literature and information about downtown that can be distributed to visitors. New uniforms branded with the OKC Ambassador logo are worn by all Ambassadors. In addition, the Ambassadors wear gold colored caps that stand out and are easy to spot on crowded streets.

Downtown OKC Inc., manager of the BID, also will help train the Ambassadors to keep them up-to-date on all downtown events and developments. DOKC will promote the OKC Ambassador program through its website and DOKC publications. U.S. Cellular has supplied the Ambassadors with 10 new technology phones and phone service. These phones will be used by the Ambassadors to help call for information and reservations.

The OKC Ambassadors are hired, trained and employed by the OCPD. They serve ready to give directions, answer questions, provide assistance, or to escort visitors to their destination. Although unarmed, the patrol provides additional support to the police department by focusing on curbing quality of life crimes such as aggressive panhandling and graffiti. They also serve as a helpful information resource for Downtown OKC tourists, conventioneers, workers and residents.

Status: The Ambassador program rolled out in July 2005.

[hipsterdoofus]

Some people may be embarrassed to be seen talking to someone on a segway :tweeted:

[djryanla]

I like the rendering for the Concourse Renovation.

I don't like the idea of putting townhouses on "The Hill". That area needs to be commercially developed

[floater]

It's interesting. The bus station fits its spot, though. The blue and white sign is art deco (like the library and city/county buildings just north of it), but the black glass wall on top matches the Sheridan/Walker garage's glass corner next door. Another example (like the library) of the architects trying to transition OKC's WPA art deco buildings with their Urban Renewal successors. Look at Doug Loudenback's picture of the station and you'll see.

[floater]

Here's the picture mentioned above:

http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/okc02.htm

Hope this link is okay with you, Doug

[hipsterdoofus]

Well, I guess i never meant to say whether or not the bus station really fit where it is artistically, or architechturally, but it definately appears quite run down from the outside. I am not sure what the inside is like. I also know that it doesn't really look like it fits physically in its current location. If you have ever seen buses come in there, people almost have to stand out in the street at times. I think it would be nice if it were on a bigger lot. Also, as mentioned before, a lot of people seem to hang around there that those that live in "upscale residental areas" may not want to have to put up with. I know its annoying to walk down the streets and have to deal with them, so I can't imagine living right there next to the area.

Thats not to say that a bus station has to be that way, may just have to do with the design.

[BDP]

Thanks for the links floater. I also remember watching the BMX competition on Fox Sports and they used some shots from the parking lot across the street from the bus station as establishing shots. The sign and design looked good and gave OKC a very urban look.

Just my opinion, but I definitely think the art deco station is better looking than the glorified parking lot with metal canopies that is the new metro transit hub. It's definitely an improvement and I think it looks good for a transit hub in general, but it's nothing special.

In the end, any bus terminal is going to attract less than "upscale" people.. In fact moving the terminal to new the transit hub would have done nothing, but just moved them into the middle of uptown. The Montgomery is a block away and the station hasn't affected its leasing. I think most people living in an urban area realize that they're not moving into a suburban gated community where everyone they walk past will be upscale like them. Part of living downtown is living amongst the city's history. Tearing everything down because it's old or dirty robs a community of its history and character.

If they do move the terminal, I hope they can save the building and some of the city’s character and past with it. It would make a cool diner or something like that.

[hipsterdoofus]

Thats very funny, BDP, one of my coworkers just said they should make it a diner! I think that would be great, and I am not opposed to that idea. Again, my feelings about it are a combination of needing to clean it up and also the fact that it seems to have outgrown the space a bit.

Another option to me is working on the surrounding blocks. I think if you clean up the general area, the bus station will take care of itself, and at this point I bring back my point of main street from hudson to walker. The street itself is nice and landscaped (although they recently chopped down several of the trees on the northside), but on the southside, the shops are all empty. There could be some great shopping or restaurants in that area. As it is, we have coney island (no offense to them) and pizza town (all I can say is the health inspector needs to go there and they wouldn't be running).

[floater]

Lol, hipsterdoofus and BDP, a diner almost seems perfect for that place! A 24-hour one at that! Hip, I essentially agree with you. The area is seedier than it should be. It's true that busriders are lower income, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it has to attract trouble (not necessarily the homeless) or that it has to look like a mess.

That block of Main has the potentially to add some terrific retail and restaurant to the arts district. I envisioned dance studios and art galleries, as well as a really nice coffeehouse for that block. A place to do your city business and then some.

[Pete]

Get the OKC Ambassadors over there...

Can't you just see them herding up the more undesirable element on their Segways?

[hipsterdoofus]

The problem is that most anyone could outrun a segway :-).

And Floater, completely agree with you. I know that bricktown is where the money seems to be, but would be nice if OKC downtown inc or whoever would focus a little on main mainstreet over there. Would be a nice lead in right into the new entrance of the galleria on that side.

[BDP]

Anybody want to start a diner with me? It'd make a great place to hang out before and after Stage Center and Civic Center events with maybe a more universal price point than the Museum Cafe (which I really enjoy before movies or Civic Center events). We'll call it Union Diner and definitely keep the sign. It may even function as a good coffee place for CBD employees in the morning (we'll keep the bus spots as quick coffee car hops. Okies love car hops )

Main Street would be a great place to put a strip of cool locally owned boutique type retail. Maybe our own little Melrose type strip. I think that would fit in great with the art district concept. It would be cool, imo, to see the West Side develop as the local small shop answer to Bricktown's large, chain focused development. Maybe have it flow up Walker into midtown where you'd find a lot of locally owned restaurants. If Legacy comes to be, along with Sycamore and the tower, we'd begin to reach a level of residents where stuff like this might be sustainable and really make downtown, with Bricktown, the CBD, and the Arts District a really nice, unique and dense urban place to live and visit.

[hipsterdoofus]

Wow BDP, You definately have an idea there! I wish I had some mula to put into it. I think as long as there was some decent street lighting in that area, it would be an excellent diner, plus you are right about the coffee shop too. Definately something that could be done.

[Luke]

Heh, it is a perfect Seinfeld-lookin' diner. Great idea.